Air freshener container and composition

ABSTRACT

An air freshener includes a cup-shaped container including a base, a side wall, and a rim. An air freshener composition is disposed within the container. The air freshener composition includes a bottom layer disposed adjacent to the base and has a plurality of ethylene-vinyl-acetate beads. The air freshener composition further including a top layer extending over the bottom layer. Alternatively, the air freshener composition includes a single layer having a plurality of ethylene-vinyl-acetate beads dispersed throughout.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.60/703,809, filed Jul. 29, 2005, the disclosure of which is incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Air fresheners are commonly used in many different locations to providea pleasant scent to the environment in which it is used. Examples ofsome locations in which air fresheners are commonly used includerestrooms, kitchens, and a variety of other industrial and commerciallocations. Regardless of the environment in which the air freshener isused, it is desirable that the scent of the air freshener be providedcontinuously to the environment without diminishing or becomingunnoticeable.

A typical air freshener includes a dispenser that supports an airfreshener container. The air freshener container contains a quantity ofan air freshener composition and is inserted within the dispenser fordispersion within the environment. During use, the air freshenercomposition is dispersed through the dispenser into the environment.Often, the air freshener container is supported within the dispenser insuch a manner that it is easily replaceable when the quantity of the airfreshener composition is depleted after a period of use. Although avariety of air freshener containers and compositions are known in theart, it would be desirable to provide an improved structure for such anair freshener container and an improved formulation for such an airfreshener composition.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an improved structure for such an airfreshener container and an improved formulation for such an airfreshener composition. The air freshener includes a cup-shaped containerincluding a base, a side wall, and a rim. An air freshener compositionis disposed within the container. The air freshener composition includesa bottom layer disposed adjacent to the base and has a plurality ofethylene-vinyl-acetate beads. The air freshener composition furtherincluding a top layer extending over the bottom layer. Alternatively,the air freshener composition includes a single layer having a pluralityof ethylene-vinyl-acetate beads dispersed throughout.

Various objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent tothose skilled in the art from the following detailed description of thepreferred embodiments, when read in light of the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an air freshener container in accordancewith this invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the air freshener containerillustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the air freshener containerillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of the air freshener containerillustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the air freshener container illustrated inFIGS. 1 through 4.

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the air freshener container illustratedin FIGS. 1 through 5.

FIG. 7 is a sectional elevational view of the air freshener containerillustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6, together with a first embodiment of anair freshener composition in accordance with this invention, wherein theair freshener composition is sealed within the air freshener containerby a lid.

FIG. 8 is a sectional elevational view similar to FIG. 7 showing thefirst embodiment of the air freshener composition initially after thelid has been removed from the air freshener container.

FIG. 9 is a sectional elevational view similar to FIG. 8 showing thefirst embodiment of the air freshener composition after the lid has beenremoved from the air freshener container for a period of time.

FIG. 10 is a sectional elevational view similar to FIG. 9 showing thefirst embodiment of the air freshener composition after the lid has beenremoved from the air freshener container for a further period of time.

FIG. 11 is a sectional elevational view of the air freshener containerillustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6, together with a second embodiment ofan air freshener composition in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 12 is a sectional elevational view similar to FIG. 11 showing thesecond embodiment of the air freshener composition after a lid has beenremoved from the air freshener container for a period of time.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6an air freshener container, indicated generally at 10, in accordancewith this invention. The illustrated air freshener container is adaptedto inserted within a conventional dispenser (not shown). As will beexplained in detail below, the air freshener container 10 contains aquantity of an air freshener composition. During use, the air freshenercomposition is dispersed through the dispenser into the environment.

The illustrated air freshener container 10 is generally cup-shaped,including a base 11, a side wall 12 and a rim 13. In the illustratedembodiment, the base 11 is generally circular in shape, although such isnot required. The illustrated side wall 12 extends upwardly from thebase 11 and circumferentially thereabout, and the rim 13 extendsoutwardly from the upper end of the side wall 12. If desired, aplurality of feet 11 a may extend downwardly from the base 11. In theillustrated embodiment, three of such feet 11 a extend downwardly fromthe base 11, although any number of feet 11 a may be provided. The base11, the feet 11 a, the side wall 12, and the rim 13 may, if desired, beformed from a single piece of material, such as a plastic material.

The side wall 12 and the base 13 of the air freshener container 10 maybe formed having a first and second pockets, indicated generally at 14and 15. The first pocket 14 includes a first wall 14 a and a second wall14 b that extend inwardly from a circumference defined by the side wall12. In the illustrated embodiment, the first wall 14 a and the secondwall 14 b of the first pocket 14 extend at a right angle relative to oneanother, although such is not required. If desired, a brace 14 c mayextend laterally between the first wall 14 a and the second wall 14 b ofthe first pocket 14. Similarly, the second pocket 15 includes a firstwall 15 a and a second wall 15 b that extend inwardly from acircumference defined by the side wall 12. In the illustratedembodiment, the first wall 15 a and the second wall 15 b of the secondpocket 15 extend at a right angle relative to one another, although suchis not required. If desired, a brace 15 c may extend laterally betweenthe first wall 15 a and the second wall 15 b of the second pocket 15.The side wall 12 and the base 13 of the air freshener container 10 mayalso be formed having a recess 16. In the illustrated embodiment, therecess 16 is disposed between the first and second pockets 14 and 15,although such is not required.

As shown in FIGS. 7 through 10, the air freshener container 10 isadapted to contain a quantity of a first embodiment of an air freshenercomposition, indicated generally at 20. The air freshener composition 20may be composed of any desired material. In the illustrated firstembodiment, however, the air freshener composition 20 is composed of twodifferent materials, namely, a bottom layer 21 and a top layer 22. Thebottom layer 21 includes a plurality of ethylene-vinyl-acetate (EVA)beads 21 a. Such EVA beads 21 a are desirable because of their betterability to absorb perfumes relative to other thermoplastic resins.Additionally, the EVA beads 21 a possess superior volatilizingproperties, which provides improved disbursement of the perfumecontained in the EVA beads 21 a and results in a more potent and longerlasting fragrance being emitted from the EVA beads 21 a.

The EVA beads 21 a may contain any suitable type and amount of fragrancematerial. In the preferred embodiment, the EVA beads 21 a contain afragrance oil ranging from about 1% to about 60% of the weight of theEVA material, depending upon the amount of fragrance desired. The bottomlayer 21 may contain any suitable amount of EVA beads 21 a. In thepreferred embodiment, approximately 0.5 ounces of the fragranced EVAbeads 21 a are added to the container 12 to form the bottom layer 21.The EVA beads 21 a may be of any desired fragrance.

Additional layers of fragranced material may then be placed over thebottom layer 21, although such is not required. In the preferredembodiment, the top layer 22 is disposed over the bottom layer 21. Thetop layer 22 may be made from any suitable fragrance material.Preferably, the top layer 22 is composed of a fragranced gel material.The fragranced gel material can be manufactured using any suitablemethod, such as cold-formulation or hot-formulation, and canmanufactured to any suitable consistency, such as solid, semisolid, orfluid. The top layer 22 may also have any suitable fragrance.Preferably, the fragrance of the top layer 22 differs from the fragranceof the EVA beads 21 a that form the bottom layer 21, although such isnot required. The top layer 22 may contain any suitable amount offragrance material. In the preferred embodiment, the top layer 22 iscomposed of three ounces of fragranced gel material.

As previously discussed, the air freshener composition 20 may be formedfrom either a single layer or from any suitable number of multiplelayers of fragrance material. Where a single layer configuration isused, the air freshener material 20 is preferably comprised of afragranced gel material that contains a plurality of fragrance infusedEVA beads 21 a suspended therein, such as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 anddescribed in further detail below. Where multiple layers are used, itwill be appreciated that the EVA beads 21 a may be disposed at anylayering point within the air freshener composition 20. For example, forthe illustrated two layer air freshener composition 20, the EVA beadlayer 21 a may be arranged either as the bottom layer 21 (as shown) oras the top layer 22 of the air freshener composition 20. It will also beappreciated that where multiple fragrance layers are utilized, eachfragrance layer may be composed of any type or combination of fragrancematerials. For example, for the illustrated two layer air freshenercomposition 20, the bottom layer 21 may be composed solely of the EVAbeads 21 a, while the top layer 22 may be composed of a combination offragranced gel material having additional EVA beads 21 a suspendedtherein.

In use, a lid or seal 30 is initially provide across the upper end ofthe air freshener container 10, as shown in FIG. 7. The lid or seal 30may, for example, be formed from a conventional metallic foil materialthat is adhered or otherwise secured to the rim 13 so as to close theotherwise opened end of the air freshener container 10. When the seal 30is removed from the air freshener container 10, as shown in FIG. 8, thetop layer 22 of the air freshener composition 20 is exposed to theatmosphere. The top layer 22 thus emits its fragrance into theatmosphere as it evaporates, as shown in FIGS. 8, 9, and 10. As the gelmaterial of the top layer 22 evaporates, the top layer 22 occupies lessspace within the air freshener container 10. After a period of time, asufficient amount of the top layer 22 evaporates so as to expose thebottom layer 21 of the air freshener composition 20 to the atmosphere.As previously discussed, the bottom layer 21 preferably contains adifferent fragrance from the top layer 22. As the bottom layer 21 isexposed, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the fragrance of the bottom layer21 is simultaneously released with the scent of the top layer 22. Wherea single layer configuration is used, the EVA beads 21 a suspendedwithin the air freshener composition 20 are exposed to the atmosphere asthe gel material of the top layer 22 evaporates.

Regardless of the configuration, as the second fragranced material isexposed to the atmosphere, the fragrance of the air freshener changes topredominately the fragrance of the second material. This effect iscumulative in that as the first fragrance continues to evaporate, thescent of the air freshener composition 20 ranges from a combination ofthe multiple fragrances of the fragrance materials to almost exclusivelythe second fragrance that is exposed as the first fragrance materialcontinues to evaporate. Referring back to the preferred embodiment, asthe top layer 22 of the air freshener composition 20 evaporates and thescent of the top layer 22 is consumed, the bottom layer 21 is exposed tothe atmosphere. As a result, the scent of the bottom layer 21 isreleased in increasing amounts as the top layer 22 continues toevaporate. As the top layer 22 evaporates, the air freshener composition20 provides a combined scent comprised of the scents of both the bottomlayer 21 and the top layer 22. After all of the top layer 22 has beenconsumed, the scent of the bottom layer 21 alone continues to scent theenvironment in which the air freshener composition 20 is placed.

The change of fragrance as the air freshener composition 20 evaporatesprovides a particular advantage in that it causes those in the freshenedenvironment to become more aware of the scent of the air freshener. Thisheightened awareness of the air freshener scent results because not onlydoes the fragrance of the air freshener composition 20 change, but italso does not diminish in magnitude because the new, fresh fragrance isexposed as the first fragrance material is consumed. Another advantageof the multiple fragrance configuration is the extended fresheningcapability of the air freshener composition 20 because the secondfragrance material, which is preferably an EVA bead 21 a material, isextremely fragrant and maintains its fragrance for an extended period oftime due to the capability of the EVA material to hold fragrance.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention (not shown), thefragranced EVA resin material can be utilized as a copolymer withplastic resins to form any desired plastic freshening products. Examplesof such plastic freshening products include, but are not limited to,urinal screens, urinal rim sticks, and stick-up air fresheners. Thefragranced EVA resin material can be combined with any plastic orcombination of plastics suitable to form the desired plastic product.Examples of such suitable plastics to combine with the fragranced EVAresin material include, but are not limited to, polypropylene, lowdensity polyethylene, and high density polyethylene.

The purpose of adding the EVA resin material as a copolymer is toenhance flexibility and provide air freshening capability to plasticparts. The utilization of the fragranced EVA resin material providessuperior air freshening capability because the EVA resin material can beloaded with a greater percent of fragrance when compared to otherplastic resins. The EVA resin material can be loaded with any suitableamount of fragrance oil required to produce the desired level offragrance relative to the specific application of the formed plasticpart. The preferred fragrance concentration is generally within therange of from about 1% to about 60% of the weight of the EVA resinmaterial. Another benefit of the EVA resin material is that it remainsin a stable, useable form without leaking the added fragrance, and theEVA resin material remains stable and permits the addition of colors tothe EVA resin material as desired.

Based on the advantages of the EVA resin material cited above, limitlesscopolymer applications exist for the EVA resin material that allow forthe development and manufacture of any plastic part having fragranceincorporated at a concentration that imparts significant air freshening.The use of the EVA resin material as a copolymer also provides theability to fragrance plastic resins that were previously unstable tofragrance addition. The fragranced EVA resin material can be used as acopolymer at any concentration level, again dependent upon the desiredlevel of fragrance for the plastic part. For example, a polymer plasticpart including the EVA resin material may contain anywhere from 0.1% to100% EVA resin material based on the overall weight of the desiredplastic part to be formed.

One such example of a product that may be formed using the EVA resinmaterial is a urinal screen. For a urinal screen application, a polymerplastic formed from approximately 70% low density polyethylene andapproximately 30% fragranced EVA resin material is used to injectionmold the urinal screen. The resultant, fragranced urinal screen emitsair freshener for an extended period of time (i.e. approximately 30days) and provides superior fragrance capabilities over the entire timeframe in which it is used.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the air freshener container 10 is alsoadapted to contain a quantity of a second embodiment of an air freshenercomposition, indicated generally at 20′. The illustrated air freshenercomposition 20′ includes a gel material 21′ having a plurality of EVAbeads 21 a′ suspended therein. The gel material 21′ and the EVA beads 21a′ can be composed of the same materials as described above or from anyother desired materials. Mixing the beads 21 a′ into the gel material21′ prevents a barrier forming over the beads 21 a′ when the gelmaterial 21′ is evaporating. It also allows a small amount of fragrancerelease from the beads 21 a′ while the gel material 21′ is still presentand an increased evaporation from the beads 21 a′ once the gel material21′ has evaporated. When the gel material 21′ has evaporated, the beads21 a′ form their own layer in the base of the cup 10, free from anybarrier.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the principleand mode of operation of this invention have been explained andillustrated in its preferred embodiments. However, it must be understoodthat this invention may be practiced otherwise than as specificallyexplained and illustrated without departing from its spirit or scope.

1. An air freshener comprising: a container; and an air freshenercomposition disposed within said container, said air freshenercomposition including a plurality of ethylene-vinyl-acetate beads and alayer of material.
 2. The air freshener defined in claim 1 wherein saidair freshener composition includes a bottom layer of said plurality ofethylene-vinyl-acetate beads and a top layer of material extending oversaid bottom layer.
 3. The air freshener defined in claim 1 wherein saidair freshener composition includes a layer of material having saidplurality of ethylene-vinyl-acetate beads dispersed therein.
 4. The airfreshener defined in claim 1 wherein said beads contain a fragrance oilranging from about 1% to about 60% of the weight thereof.
 5. The airfreshener defined in claim 1 wherein said layer is formed from afragranced material.
 6. The air freshener defined in claim 1 whereinsaid layer is formed from a fragranced gel material.
 7. The airfreshener defined in claim 1 further including a lid that seals the airfreshener composition within the container.
 8. An air freshenercomprising: a cup-shaped container including a base, a side wall, and arim; and an air freshener composition disposed within said container,said air freshener composition including a plurality ofethylene-vinyl-acetate beads and a layer of material.
 9. The airfreshener defined in claim 8 wherein said air freshener compositionincludes a bottom layer of said plurality of ethylene-vinyl-acetatebeads and a top layer of material extending over said bottom layer. 10.The air freshener defined in claim 8 wherein said air freshenercomposition includes a layer of material having said plurality ofethylene-vinyl-acetate beads dispersed therein.
 11. The air freshenerdefined in claim 8 wherein said beads contain a fragrance oil rangingfrom about 1% to about 60% of the weight thereof.
 12. The air freshenerdefined in claim 8 wherein said layer is formed from a fragrancedmaterial.
 13. The air freshener defined in claim 8 wherein said layer isformed from a fragranced gel material.
 14. The air freshener defined inclaim 8 further including a lid that seals the air freshener compositionwithin the container.